title: Gene expression profiling of vasoregression in the retina--involvement of microglial cells.
abstract: Vasoregression is a hallmark of vascular eye diseases but the mechanisms involved are still largely unknown. We have recently characterized a rat ciliopathy model which develops primary photoreceptor degeneration and secondary vasoregression. To improve the understanding of secondary vasoregression in retinal neurodegeneration, we used microarray techniques to compare gene expression profiles in this new model before and after retinal vasoregression. Differential gene expression was validated by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Of the 157 genes regulated more than twofold, the MHC class II invariant chain CD74 yielded the strongest upregulation, and was allocated to activated microglial cells close to the vessels undergoing vasoregression. Pathway clustering identified genes of the immune system including inflammatory signaling, and components of the complement cascade upregulated during vasoregression. Together, our data suggest that microglial cells involved in retinal immune response participate in the initiation of vasoregression in the retina.
authors.affiliation: 5 Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gretz
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hammes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054928:Validation Studies as Topic; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology